He's Losing Weight... I Can't Stand It!

What happens when half a couple starts getting fit alone?

- Paula Derrow

“I awoke to the sounds of my guy moaning and panting. With one eye, I glanced at the clock: 6am. I let out a moan myself. It used to be that Rohan, naturally an early bird, would humour me, lingering in bed so we could snuggle, have pillow talk (and sex), then drift off again, intertwined. Now, he spends mornings doing an intensive-strength workout—a CrossFit of his own making—and follows a modified fasting plan, skipping breakfast and avoiding carbs at dinner in an attempt to shed some extra flab. The panting is not his hot breath in my ear, but his efforts as he executes a series of bicep curls and bench presses from our coffee table.

He’s not fat—far from it—but he is five kilos heavier than he was when we met. I’ve also put on weight since we got together. And I know I could join in on his programme. But right now, the only willpower I have is sticking to just one bowl of ice-cream for dessert. I counted reps and calories for months before our wedding, and I know how much mental and physical energy it takes. These days, I’m more excited about spending my juice on something other than getting up at 6am to sweat, things like my new business and studying Italian (I’ve always wanted to learn).